Voltage translating control structure

ABSTRACT

A voltage translating control structure for switching logic is described. A battery drain problem is corrected by this structure. The voltage translating feature allows reliable switching between power supply and battery even if the power supply voltage has significantly decreased. Operation is adaptable to include all DC power systems. Logic circuitry that also allows voltage translation is presented.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority from the provisional U.S. patentapplication titled “Multiple Supply Level Logic for Battery”, filed Dec.18, 2003 and identified by Application No. 60/530,576, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Supervisory circuits are used to monitor power supply voltages andswitch to or from a backup power source depending on the acceptabilityof the monitored voltage. Supervisory circuits are used inmicroprocessors, digital equipment, and various other electronicequipment and systems. A supervisory circuit commonly contains aswitching circuit that is used to switch the load between power derivedfrom the power supply and power derived from a battery, and back again.This switching circuit must furnish a high degree of isolation betweenswitched power sources, so that for example the battery is not loaded byany part of the power supply circuitry when running off the battery.Circuit elements that may provide inadequate isolation during low powersupply voltage conditions are the main switching circuit and otherfunctional elements such as logic gates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth withparticularity in the appended claims. The invention itself however, bothas to organization and method of operation, together with objects andadvantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the followingdetailed description of the invention, which describes certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary simplified schematic diagram of a switchingcircuit.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary simplified schematic diagram of a switchingcircuit, utilized in accordance with certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram of a switching circuit,utilized in accordance with certain embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A-4D are simplified schematic diagrams of logic voltagetranslation circuits, in accordance with certain embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A structure for providing high isolation between a power supply and abattery, when the battery is supplying primary power to the load ispresented, in accordance with certain embodiments of the presentinvention. As used herein, battery may refer to a battery referencevoltage or another other applicable secondary voltage.

Many variations, equivalents and permutations of these illustrativeexemplary embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled inthe art upon consideration of the description that follows. Theparticular examples utilized should not be considered to define thescope of the invention. For example discrete circuitry implementationsand integrated circuit implementations, and hybrid approaches thereof,may be formulated using techniques of the present invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of theinvention and not intended to limit the invention to the specificembodiments shown and described. In the description below, likereference numerals may be used to describe the same, similar orcorresponding parts in the several views of the drawings.

For purposes of this document, the exact mechanical and electricalparameters of equipments are unimportant to an understanding of theinvention, and many different types of electrical and mechanicalcomponents may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. An example is that components utilized in the circuitmay differ as to value, power rating, and physical size. This documentuses generalized descriptions by way of example only. Many variationsfor these constituent items are possible without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

Refer to FIG. 1, which is an exemplary simplified schematic diagram of aswitching circuit. Transistor 135 and transistor 140 connect Out 145 toBatt 130 if gate 125 is low, and connect Out 145 to ground if gate 125is high. Gate 125 is controlled by a switch consisting of transistor 115and transistor 120, these transistors being controlled by In 110. If In110 is low, gate 125 will be high, or at Vcc 105 potential. If In 110 ishigh, gate 125 will be at ground potential. The problem occurs when In110 is low, connecting gate 125 to Vcc 105, and Vcc 105 is also areduced value. When Vcc 105 is lower than approximately 2.4 VDC, gate125 will also be lower than 2.4 VDC, and Out 145 will be connected toBatt 130 even though Batt 130 is supposed to be disconnected. This willresult in Batt 130 being drained when it is supposed to be disconnected.

Refer to FIG. 2, which is an exemplary simplified schematic diagram of aswitching circuit, a voltage translating control structure, utilized inaccordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. Vbatt 215is voltage from a backup battery source. Pd 205 is a logic input thatcontrols if Vbatt 215 or a power supply Vcc1 220 is applied to switchedbuss Vcc 210. This circuit was utilized as part of an apparatus employedto test and validate the concepts and performance of the presentinvention. The specific circuit design will not be discussed here as itis not necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

Refer to FIG. 3, which is a simplified schematic diagram of a voltagetranslating control structure, here a switching circuit, utilized inaccordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. IN 305 isa digital logic input, with a high level indicating that the switchedpower buss Vcc 310 is to be connected to V 315, and a low levelindicating that switched power buss Vcc 310 is to be connected tobattery voltage Vbatt 320. The output of the circuit is OUT 380 which isVcc 310. If IN 305 is high, the output of inverter 325 is low. This willturn transistor 330 on and connect V 315 to Vcc 310. The low output ofinverter 325 is coupled to the input of inverter 350. The output ofinverter 350 is therefore high, and this will turn transistor 340 off.Transistor 340 and transistor 335 are switches in series, and when bothare turned on the battery Vbatt 320 will be connected to switched powerbuss Vcc 310. Note that if IN 305 is high, transistor 330 is turned on,which connects V 315 to Vcc 310, and transistor 340 is turned off whichprevents Vbatt 320 from being connected to Vcc 310. With IN 305 high,the low output of inverter 325 turns off transistor 355 and produces ahigh at the output of inverter 375. The high output of inverter 375turns transistor 370 on, thus producing a low at the input of inverter365. The output of inverter 365 is therefore high, and is the input toinverter 360. Because of this the output of inverter 360 is low. The lowoutput of inverter 360 is applied to the input of inverter 345, and theoutput of inverter 345 is high and is applied to the gate of transistor335. Note that for IN 305 being high, meaning that V 315 is supposed tobe connected to Vcc 310 and Vbatt 320 is not supposed to be connected toVcc 310, that transistor 330 is turned on and that transistor 340 andtransistor 335 are turned off.

IN 305 is the digital logic input, with a low level indicating that theswitched power buss Vcc 310 is to be connected to Vbatt 310. The outputof the circuit is OUT 380 which is Vcc 310. If IN 305 is low, the outputof inverter 325 is high. This will turn transistor 330 off anddisconnect V 315 from Vcc 310. The high output of inverter 325 iscoupled to the input of inverter 350. The output of inverter 350 istherefore low, and this will turn transistor 340 on. Transistor 340 andtransistor 335 are switches in series, and when both are turned on thebattery Vbatt 320 will be connected to switched power buss Vcc 310. Notethat if IN 305 is low transistor 330 is turned off, which will not allowconnection between V 315 and Vcc 310, and transistor 340 is turned on.With IN 305 low, the high output of inverter 325 turns on transistor 355and produces a low at the output of inverter 375. The low output ofinverter 375 turns transistor 370 off, thus producing a high at theinput of inverter 365. The output of inverter 365 is therefore low, andis the input to inverter 360. Because of this the output of inverter 360is high. The high output of inverter 360 is applied to the input ofinverter 345, and the output of inverter 345 is low and is applied tothe gate of transistor 335. Note that for IN 305 being low, meaning thatVbatt 320 is supposed to be connected to Vcc 310 and V 315 is notsupposed to be connected to Vcc 310, that transistor 330 is turned offand that transistor 340 and transistor 335 are both turned on whichcompletes the circuit between Vbatt 320 and Vcc 310.

Note that the inputs of inverters 365, inverter 360, and inverter 345which may contain p-channel gates are not referenced to Vcc and ground.Because of this the outputs of these inverters will not be responsive tovariations in the supply voltage V 315. The gate of transistor 335 willnot vary as supply voltage V 315 varies, and the original battery drainproblem described in the discussion of FIG. 1 is solved by this leveltranslation circuit. AND/NAND and OR/NOR gates may also be used in placeof inverter 365, inverter 360, and inverter 345 as required to meetsystem requirements, and the gate inputs may be coupled together or usedseparately. It should also be noted that this level translating designis capable of operation in very low power applications.

Refer to FIGS. 4A-4D, which are simplified schematic diagrams of logicvoltage translation circuits, in accordance with certain embodiments ofthe present invention. There are two embodiments of AND/NAND circuitsand two embodiments of OR/NOR circuits. These logic functions areachieved using level translating circuitry which allows their inclusionin alternate or related circuitry for the present invention and othergeneral uses.

FIG. 4A depicts a voltage translating AND/NAND circuit. The two supplyvoltages are Vbatt 405 and V 480. Inputs A 465 and B 470 are referencedto the V 480 supply. Output 475 and output 460 are referenced to theVbatt 405 supply. If input A 465 is low, transistor 430 will be in theoff condition and inverter 455 will force transistor 445 to the oncondition. If input A is high, transistor 430 will be in the oncondition and inverter 455 will force transistor 445 to the offcondition. If input B 470 is low, transistor 435 will be in the offcondition and inverter 450 will force transistor 440 to the oncondition. If input B 470 is high, transistor 435 will be in the oncondition and inverter 450 will force transistor 440 to the offcondition. If either transistor 440 or transistor 445 and in the oncondition, output 460 is pulled low. If output 460 is low, transistor425 is turned off and transistor 420 is turned on. If transistor 420 isturned on, Vbatt will be applied to output 475, which will turntransistor 410 off and transistor 415 on. If transistor 415 is turnedon, output 460 is maintained in the low condition. Transistor 430 andtransistor 435 are in the off condition because either A 465 or B 470,or both, are low. If input A 465 and B 470 are both high, transistor 430and transistor 435 are both on which will force output 475 low.Additionally, inverter 450 will force transistor 440 off and inverter455 will force transistor 445 off. If output 475 is low, transistor 415is off and transistor 410 is on. If transistor 410 is on, Vbatt 405 isapplied to output 460, making it high. It can thus be seen that the onlycondition which will force output 460 to a high condition (and output475 to a low condition) is if both A 465 and B 470 are high.

FIG. 4B depicts a voltage translating OR/NOR circuit. The two supplyvoltages are Vbatt 405 and V 480. Inputs A 466 and B 471 are referencedto the V 480 supply. Output 476 and output 461 are referenced to theVbatt 405 supply. If input A 466 is low, transistor 431 will be in theoff condition and inverter 456 will force transistor 446 to the oncondition. If input A 466 is high, transistor 431 will be in the oncondition and inverter 456 will force transistor 446 to the offcondition. If input B 471 is low, transistor 436 will be in the offcondition and inverter 451 will force transistor 441 to the oncondition. If input B 471 is high, transistor 436 will be in the oncondition and inverter 451 will force transistor 441 to the offcondition. If both transistor 441 and transistor 446 are in the oncondition, output 461 is pulled low. If output 461 is low, transistor426 is turned off and transistor 421 is turned on. If transistor 421 isturned on, Vbatt will be applied to output 476, which will turntransistor 411 off and transistor 416 on. If transistor 416 is turnedon, output 461 is maintained in the low condition. Transistor 431 andtransistor 436 are in the on condition only when both A 466 and B 471are low. If input A 466 or B 471 is either high, transistor 431 ortransistor 436 or both are on which will force output 476 low.Additionally, under this condition inverter 451 will force transistor441 off and inverter 456 will force transistor 446 off. If output 476 islow, transistor 416 is off and transistor 411 is on. If transistor 411is on, Vbatt 405 is applied to output 461, making it high. It can thusbe seen that the only condition which will force output 461 to a lowcondition (and output 476 to a high condition) is if both A 466 and B471 are low.

FIG. 4C depicts an alternate voltage translating AND/NAND circuit. Thetwo supply voltages are Vbatt 405 and V 480. Inputs A 467 and B 472 arereferenced to the V 480 supply. Output 477 and output 462 are referencedthe Vbatt 405 supply. If input A 467 is low, transistor 432 will be inthe off condition and inverter 457 will force transistor 447 to the oncondition. If input A 467 is high, transistor 432 will be in the oncondition and inverter 457 will force transistor 447 to the offcondition. If input B 472 is low, transistor 437 will be in the offcondition and inverter 452 will force transistor 442 to the oncondition. If input B 472 is high, transistor 437 will be in the oncondition and inverter 452 will force transistor 442 to the offcondition. If either transistor 442 or transistor 447 and in the oncondition, output 462 is pulled low. If output 462 is low, transistor412 is turned on. If transistor 412 is turned on, Vbatt will be appliedto output 477, which will turn transistor 422 off and output 462 ismaintained in the low condition. Transistor 432 or transistor 437 is inthe off condition because either A 467 or B 472, or both, are low. Ifinput A 467 and B 472 are both high, transistor 432 and transistor 437are both on which will force output 477 low. Additionally, inverter 452will force transistor 442 off and inverter 457 will force transistor 447off. If output 477 is low, transistor 412 is off and transistor 422 ison. If transistor 412 is on, Vbatt 405 is applied to output 477, makingit high. It can thus be seen that the only condition which will forceoutput 462 to a high condition (and output 477 to a low condition) is ifboth A 467 and B 472 are high.

FIG. 4D depicts a voltage translating OR/NOR circuit. The two supplyvoltages are Vbatt 405 and V 480. Inputs A 468 and B 473 are referencedto the V 480 supply. Output 478 and output 463 are referenced to theVbatt 405 supply. If input A 468 is low, transistor 433 will be in theoff condition and inverter 458 will force transistor 448 to the oncondition. If input A 468 is high, transistor 433 will be in the oncondition and inverter 458 will force transistor 448 to the offcondition. If input B 473 is low, transistor 438 will be in the offcondition and inverter 453 will force transistor 443 to the oncondition. If input B 473 is high, transistor 438 will be in the oncondition and inverter 453 will force transistor 443 to the offcondition. If both transistor 443 and transistor 448 are in the oncondition, output 463 is pulled low. If output 463 is low, transistor413 is turned on. If transistor 413 is turned on, Vbatt will be appliedto output 478, which will turn transistor 423 off. Output 463 is thusmaintained in the low condition. Transistor 433 or transistor 438 is inthe on condition only when A 468 or B 473, or both, are high. If input A468 or B 473 is either high, transistor 433 or transistor 438 or bothare on which will force output 478 low. Additionally, under thiscondition inverter 453 will force transistor 443 and/or inverter 458will force transistor 448 off. If output 478 is low, transistor 423 ison. If transistor 423 is on, Vbatt 405 is applied to output 463, makingit high. It can thus be seen that the only condition which will forceoutput 463 to a low condition (and output 478 to a high condition) is ifboth A 468 and B 473 are low.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many othercircuit and system configurations can be readily devised to accomplishthe desired end without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications,permutations and variations will become apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art in light of the foregoing description. By way ofexample, other types of devices and circuits may be utilized for anycomponent or circuit as long as they provide the requisitefunctionality. A further example is that the described structure may beimplemented as part of an integrated circuit, or a hybrid circuit, or adiscrete circuit, or combinations thereof. Yet another example is thatthe features of the present invention may be adapted to all DC powersystems regardless of voltages. Accordingly, it is intended that thepresent invention embrace all such alternatives, modifications andvariations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A voltage translating control structure operable to control switching from a primary voltage reference to a battery voltage reference with no drain on the battery voltage reference, comprising: a transistor operable to enable switching to the battery voltage reference; and a level translating structure to control the p-channel transistor; and wherein the level translating structure is operable to present to the control terminal of the transistor only those signals which are referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 2. The voltage translating control structure of claim 1, wherein: the level translating structure accepts a plurality of logic inputs with each logic input referenced to either the primary voltage reference or to the battery voltage reference.
 3. The voltage translating control structure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of inverters coupled in a feedback arrangement of the level translating structure translate binary input switch states to output states referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 4. The voltage translating control structure of claim 3, wherein an inverter of the plurality of inverters is replaced by an AND/NAND voltage translating gate, further comprising: a first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and a second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the control terminal of a sixth transistor and to the drain of a seventh transistor and to the source of an eighth transistor, and is the inverted AND/NAND output terminal; and the control terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the source of the sixth transistor and to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the control terminal of the seventh transistor and to the drain of the fourth transistor and to the drain of the third transistor, and is the AND/NAND output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the eighth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the third transistor and the fifth transistor and the seventh transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the second transistor is coupled to the source of the first transistor, and wherein the AND/NAND structure performs a translation from signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 5. The voltage translating control structure of claim 3, wherein an inverter of the plurality of inverters is replaced by an OR/NOR voltage translating gate, further comprising: a first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and a second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the control terminal of a sixth transistor and to the drain of a seventh transistor and to the source of an eighth transistor and to the drain of the second transistor, and is the inverted OR/NOR output terminal; and the control terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the source of the sixth transistor and to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the control terminal of the seventh transistor and to the drain of the third transistor, and is the OR/NOR output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the eighth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the fifth transistor and the seventh transistor and the first transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the fourth transistor is coupled to the source of the third transistor, and wherein the OR/NOR structure performs a translation from input logic signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to output logic signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 6. The voltage translating control structure of claim 3, wherein an inverter of the plurality of inverters is replaced by a OR/NOR voltage translating gate, further comprising: a first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and a second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the source of a sixth transistor and to the drain of the second transistor, and is the inverted OR/NOR output terminal; and the control terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the source of the fifth transistor and to the drain of the third, and is the OR/NOR output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the first transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the fourth transistor is coupled to the source of the third transistor, and wherein the alternate OR/NOR structure performs a translation from input logic signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to output logic signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 7. The voltage translating control structure of claim 3, wherein an inverter of the plurality of inverters is replaced by AND/NAND voltage translating gate, further comprising: a first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and a second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the source of an sixth transistor, and is the inverted AND/NAND output terminal; and the control terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the source of the fifth transistor and to the drain of the third transistor and to the drain of the fourth transistor, and is the AND/NAND output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the third transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the second transistor is coupled to the source of the first transistor, and wherein the alternate AND/NAND structure performs a translation from signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 8. The voltage translating control structure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of transistors are utilized to couple logic inputs at the input of the voltage translating control structure to circuitry of the voltage translating control structure.
 9. The voltage translating control structure of claim 8, wherein an AND/NAND voltage translating gate utilized in place of an inverter of the voltage translating control structure further comprises: the first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and the second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the control terminal of a sixth transistor and to the drain of a seventh transistor and to the source of an eighth transistor, and is the inverted AND/NAND output terminal; and the control terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the source of the sixth transistor and to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the control terminal of the seventh transistor and to the drain of the fourth transistor and to the drain of the third transistor, and is the AND/NAND output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the eighth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the third transistor and the fifth transistor and the seventh transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the second transistor is coupled to the source of the first transistor, and wherein the AND/NAND structure performs a translation from signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 10. The voltage translating control structure of claim 8, wherein an OR/NOR voltage translating gate utilized in place of an inverter with the voltage translating gate further comprises: a first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and a second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the control terminal of a sixth transistor and to the drain of a seventh transistor and to the source of an eighth transistor and to the drain of the second transistor, and is the inverted OR/NOR output terminal; and the control terminal of the eighth transistor is coupled to the source of the sixth transistor and to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the control terminal of the seventh transistor and to the drain of the third transistor, and is the OR/NOR output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the eighth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the fifth transistor and the seventh transistor and the first transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the fourth transistor is coupled to the source of the third transistor, and wherein the OR/NOR structure performs a translation from input logic signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to output logic signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 11. The voltage translating control structure of claim 8, wherein an alternate OR/NOR voltage translating gate utilized in place of an inverter with the alternate OR/NOR voltage translating gate further comprises: a first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and a second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the source of a sixth transistor and to the drain of the second transistor, and is the inverted OR/NOR output terminal; and the control terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the source of the fifth transistor and to the drain of the third, and is the OR/NOR output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the first transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the fourth transistor is coupled to the source of the third transistor, and wherein the alternate OR/NOR structure performs a translation from input logic signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to output logic signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 12. The voltage translating control structure of claim 8, wherein an alternate AND/NAND voltage translating gate utilized in place of an inverter with the alternate AND/NAND voltage translating gate further comprises: a first logic input coupled to the control terminal of a first transistor and to the input of a first inverter; and a second logic input coupled to the control terminal of a second transistor and to the input of a second inverter; and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor; and the output of the second inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a fourth transistor; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the control terminal of a fifth transistor and to the source of an sixth transistor, and is the inverted AND/NAND output terminal; and the control terminal of the sixth transistor is coupled to the source of the fifth transistor and to the drain of the third transistor and to the drain of the fourth transistor, and is the AND/NAND output terminal; and the drain of the sixth transistor is coupled to the drain of the fifth transistor and to the battery voltage reference; and the source of the second transistor and the fourth transistor and the third transistor are coupled to ground; and the plurality of logic inputs are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the first inverter and the second inverter are referenced to the primary voltage reference; and the drain of the second transistor is coupled to the source of the first transistor, and wherein the alternate AND/NAND structure performs a translation from signals referenced to the primary voltage reference to signals referenced to the battery voltage reference.
 13. The voltage translating control structure of claim 1, further comprising: the gate of a first transistor is coupled to a first logic input; and the source of the first transistor is coupled to ground; and the input of a first inverter is coupled to the first logic input, and the output of the first inverter is coupled to the gate of a second transistor; and the source of the second transistor is coupled to ground; and the drain of the second transistor is coupled to the input of a second inverter and to the output of a third inverter and to the input of a fourth inverter; and the drain of the first transistor is coupled to the output of the second inverter and to the input of the third inverter; and the output of the fourth inverter is coupled to the control terminal of a third transistor, and wherein the third transistor is a switching element to enable the use of battery voltage reference power. 